Agastache hybrid plant named ‘Velvet Crush’

ABSTRACT

A new, distinct  Agastache  hybrid plant as shown and described, characterized by the combination of taller purple stems, darker green foliage, light pink flowers, and rose colored calyxes compared to the seed parent.

Latin name: Agastache hybrid.

Cultivar name: ‘Velvet Crush’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid of Agastacheplant named ‘Velvet Crush’ characterized by the combination of tallerpurple stems, darker green foliage; light pink flowers, and rose colorcalyxes on 80 cm plants compared to the seed parent. The new Agastachehybrid was raised as a seedling from open pollinated seed sown from theseed parent Agastache cana ‘Bolero’, not patented, in Hebron, Ill. in2015. The selection of the new plant was due to its' taller purplestems, light pink flowers, and rose colored calyxes compared to the seedparent. Initial asexual reproduction has taken place at a nursery inHebron, Ill. since 2016 by means of vegetative cuttings. The newAgastache hybrid has shown to be stable and identical in reproduction tothe initially discovered plant after rooting over 300 plants from 2015to 2016. No plants of the new Monarda have been sold in this country, oranywhere in the world, prior to the filing of this application, nor hasany disclosure of the new plant been made prior to the filing of thisapplication with the exception of that which was disclosed within oneyear of filing of this application and was either derived directly orindirectly for the inventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Agastache hybrid plant named ‘Velvet Crush’ characterized bytaller purple stems, light pink flowers, and rose colored calyxescompared to the seed parent have been observed to be unique and stable.For purpose of comparison the new plant will be referred to as ‘VelvetCrush’.

Plants of ‘Velvet Crush’ can be compared to the seed parent plant ofAgastache cana ‘Bolero’, not patented. 1. The ‘Velvet Crush’ plant istaller growing to 80 cm while Agastache cana ‘Bolero’ grows to 40 cm. 2.The ‘Velvet Crush’ plant has a flower color of N78 C while Agastachecana ‘Bolero’ has a darker flower color of N88 A and also has a thickerflower head.

Plants of ‘Velvet Crush’ can also be compared to another pink floweredAgastache pallida ‘Globetrotter’, not patented. 1. The ‘Velvet Crush’plant is short growing to 80 cm while Agastache pallida ‘Globetrotter’grows to 100 cm. 2. The ‘Velvet Crush’ plant has a flower color of N78 Cwhile Agastache pallida ‘Globetrotter’ has a flower color of lilac-pinkwith red rose calyxes.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Plants pictured in the drawing were grown for one year.

FIG. 1. Close up of the backside of the foliage.

FIG. 2. Close up of the flower.

FIG. 3. A group of potted plants.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (2001). Plants used for thedescription were grown for one year. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Botanical classification.—Agastache hybrid.-   Form: Upright, mounded. Flower stems arise from the roots; Moderate    branching, with numerous crowded flower spikes.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Agastache cana ‘Bolero’.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Agastache seedling, unnamed.-   Propagation: Type: cutting, — By softwood cuttings.-   Height: 80 cm from soil to top of flowers; Width: 60 cm.-   Growth: Herbaceous perennial, broad upright, moderate vigor.    -   -   Roots.—Fine, compact, dense, freely branching, brown 199 C.-   Stem:    -   -   Form.—Quadrangular, strong.        -   Color.—137 C at the base, purple at the exposed parts at            times N77 A, being color 147 B on the exposed sides at times            with both colors at times.-   Texture: Smooth glabrous.-   Branching: Moderate branching from the stem, typically 8 lateral    branches, no pinching required.    -   -   Diameter.—9 mm.        -   Length.—80 cm.        -   Internode length.—Ranges from 2-15 cm.        -   Quantity.—Up to 14 flowering branches ranges from 2-15 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Number of leaves per branch.—32, 16 pairs.        -   Size of leaf.—Length: 7 cm on average, shorter at tops of            stems. Width: 4 cm.        -   Shape of leaf.—Lanceolate.        -   Shape of tip.—Acuminate.        -   Shape of base.—Rounded        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Margin type.—Dentate.        -   Color.—Young and Mature leaves: Upper surface: 137 A. Lower            surface: close to 147 B green also some purple 79 A on new            growth.        -   Fragrance.—When rubbed, a typical anise scent.        -   Petioles.—Length: 15 mm on average for lower leaves; 1 cm or            less on average for other leaves. Diameter: 1-1.5 mm. Color:            147 B.        -   Veins.—Pattern: Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: 137 A. Lower            surface: hints of N77 A but mostly 147 B.-   Durability: Highly durable to stresses.-   Response time to flower: About 2 months when grown in the    containers.-   Flower description:-   Natural flowering season: Continuous from July into October.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Branched, terminal verticillaster,    labiate, no fragrance, individual flowers last about one week on the    plant, self-cleaning.-   Rate of flower opening: About 10% of flowers open at once, all    flowers open in about 12 weeks.-   Number of flowers: About 170 per spike; about 1000 flowers per    lateral branch.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Length.—9 mm.        -   Diameter.—2-3 mm.        -   Color.—N78 A.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Diameter.—2 cm.        -   Height.—25 cm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—12 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Color.—N78 C with some green areas close to 147 B.        -   Orientation.—Upright with secondary peduncles at 30-45°.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Petal arrangement.—Labiate, corolla with 3-lobed upper lip            and one 2-lobed lower lip having one main upper lobe and two            smaller lower lobes.        -   Size.—15 mm high; 5 mm wide.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Tip shape.—Emarginate upper lip; rounded lower lip.        -   Length.—Average upper lip: 15 mm; average lower lip: 13 mm.        -   Width.—Average upper lip: 5 mm; average lower lip: 3 mm.        -   Petal quantity.—5, fused at base.        -   Petal apex shape.—Upper lip; broad elliptic; folded; lower            lip; spathulate.        -   Texture.—Upper and lower surfaces: smooth glabrous.        -   Aspect.—30-90° angle to stem tip.        -   Petaloids.—None.-   Color:    -   -   Petals.—When opening: Upper surface: N78 C. Lower surface:            N78 C. Fully opened: N78 C. Lower surface: N78 C.-   Calyx:    -   -   Arrangement.—5 sepals fused into a tube at 75% of the            length.        -   Height.—9 mm.        -   Diameter.—2-3 mm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Elliptic with acute tip and crenate base.            Size: Average 9 mm long; 1mm or less wide. Margin: Entire.            Texture. — Glabrous, smooth.-   Color: Outer surface: N78 A. Inner surface: N78 A. Bracts: 2 bracts    under each whorl of flowers; deltoid shape with apiculate tip; upper    surface 147 B lower surface 139 C with a pink spot or streaks. Bract    tissue; 7 mm long, 2 mm wide; Color at base N77 A and tip 79 A.-   Reproductive organs:-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—4.        -   Filament length.—12 mm.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Basifixed, elliptic. Length: 1 mm. Color:            White.        -   Pollen.—Color: White. Amount: Very low.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—One.        -   Length.—12 mm.        -   Style.—Length: 12 mm. Color: N78 A.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Cleft (2 parted). Color: N78 A. Ovary color:            N78 A.-   Seeds and fruits: Brown and round 1 mm long and 1 mm wide, color 200    B.-   Disease/pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases or    pests has been noted to date.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerate to heat at least up to 30° C. and    cool at least down to USDA Zone 5.

I claim:
 1. A new, distinct Agastache hybrid plant as shown anddescribed, characterized by the combination of taller purple stems,darker green foliage, light pink flowers, and rose colored calyxescompared to the seed parent.